Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) has sanctioned 44 scholarship recipients for failing to fulfill their mandatory return-to-service obligations. 

LPDP President Director Sudarto confirmed on Monday (23/2/2026) that following an audit of 600 awardees using immigration data and public reports, eight individuals must now fully reimburse the state, while 36 others remain under investigation.

"We must uphold the public trust, ensuring these funds provide maximum benefit to Indonesia through the dedicated service of our scholars," he said during a press conference in Jakarta, as reported by antaranews.com.

The crackdown was revealed following a viral controversy involving an alumna, identified as Dwi Sasetyaningtyas, whose social media posts regarding her child’s British passport sparked public outrage. 

Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa revealed that the alumna's husband has already agreed to repay the scholarship funds plus accumulated interest. They both face permanent blacklisting from future government programs and must return the total grant amount.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)